Smash Palace

Smash Palace Artist: Richard Julian
Label: Wea Corp
Category: Music



Average customer rating: 5 out of 5 stars
Media: Audio CD
Number Of Discs: 1


UPC: 643443800525
EAN: 0643443800525
ASIN: B00000AGB1


Release Date: 1999-01-12

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Related | Contemporary Folk | Folk | Styles | Music
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Tracks:

  1. The Restless Sea
  2. Big Big World
  3. Pussycat
  4. Sleepin' In
  5. Broken Watch
  6. Love Is the Only War
  7. As If
  8. Boca Raton
  9. (R.P. Intro) -
  10. Roman Polanski
  11. The Second Smallest State
  12. Sleepin' in (Reprise)
  13. John and Florine
  14. It Happened to Me
  15. Old Lovers
  16. Karen

Similar Items:

  1. Richard Julian
  2. Good Life
  3. Slow New York
  4. The Little Willies
  5. Rabbit Fur Coat

Customer Reviews:

4 out of 5 stars Shake A Leg.......2005-06-21

Richard Julian's brilliant "Smash Palace" rocks with creativity. "Big Big World" sets an energetic groove upon which Richard twists the lyric, "At the filling station standing in line, old lady spills the change out of her purse, starts counting the dimes; My leg is shakin' with a mind of its own; There's no mistake we're makin' close to home." "Broken Watch" is another rhythmic jewel with bongs & whops flaring all over from keyboards and drums that shoot out at a staccato lightning speed, "Honey pack my radio, My Van the Man, my Maceo, Come on girl, you're moving much too slow; Baby, yes, I hear the phone; Honey leave the phone alone; We got to, got to, got to, got to go." "Boca Raton" is a beatnik cousin to rap that sizzles with Julian's nervous anti-sedative delivery, "Well I got kinda scared of this memory drought so I headed downstairs to try & figure it out; It was then I saw the girl with one earring, not two, and she was looking at me like I was someone she knew; Then it all came back to me fast like a hypnotist's spell, I was searching for a phone in the Boca Raton motel." "Roman Polanski" is a bouncy naughty ditty, "So it's back into the whores of France; It's back to cheap red wine; I dream of mother in the camps then I get to work on time." "It Happened to Me" is a delightful track with an expansive melody about an afterlife. Richard Julian is one of those artists who burst with creativity, is loved by other musicians as is evidenced by his appearance on the latest Norah Jones DVD, and remains largely unknown but to a very select crowd. Join the club! Bravo!

5 out of 5 stars Take a Walk in the Dark with Richard.......2004-03-14

Richard Julian is an astoundingly good songwriter, singer, and guitar player. "Smash Palace" is as strong a recording as you're likely to hear from anyone.

"Smash" opens with a few humorous and eclectic funky-cuts, and as entertaining as "Restless Sea" and "Big Big World" are, they don't begin to reflect the deep soul and wisdom of some of Richard's work here. That soul - along with some gorgeous melodies - can be found in the haunting and ironic "As If," the dirty power-poprock of "Love is the Only War" and "The Second Smallest State" (Delaware in da HOWSE!!), the gorgeous "Karen," the heartbreakingly moving "Old Lovers." You're not going to hear a better blend of music and quirky, funny, and poignant lyrics from any singer-songwriter.

The album would be a classic, though, even if it only contained one cut - the beautiful "John and Florine," a ballad that shows a touching wisdom well beyond Richard's years. It became one of my favorite songs ever upon my first listen, and it still brings me to tears.

If you haven't heard Richard Julian yet, go get "Smash Palace" and "Good Life." Listen to them. And join me as one of Julian's true fans, one of those who are deeply conflicted between our desire for him to get the recognition he deserves, and our desire to keep him as our secret superstar.

5 out of 5 stars I'm blown away!.......2001-09-15

Originally, I heard Broken Watches on Austin City Limits when the Nashville writer they were spotlighting was asked what he is listening to. He commented that he thought Richard Julian was one of the best wordsmiths in music and the his music was excellent. After hearing the song, I was intrigued enough to by the CD. I was stunned by the clever lyrics.The arrangements and recording quality made me feel like I just discovered gold! It's rare for me to like every song on a CD, but I enjoy every song on Smash Palace. If you are looking for a fine example of new artistry, superb back up musicians, mesmorizing arrangements and fantastic recording quality, then I urge you to pick up a copy of Smash Palace.

4 out of 5 stars Clever, rhythmic lyrics, catchy melodies, lots of fun!.......1999-11-02

I'll admit it: I originally bought this CD just because I worked with Richard at his day job and he's a very nice guy. I'd never heard him perform, and I had modest expectations. Then I found out that my now-ex-coworker is an awesome musician. The more I listened, the more this album surprised and impressed me. It's delightfully eclectic, the songs are very catchy, and his singing is full of feeling. To top it off, his lyrics are some of the best around. They're startlingly clever and funny, and their rhymes and rhythms add fire and spice to the music. This album is a blast!

5 out of 5 stars Way to go Richard.......1999-09-01

Well, I have finally heard something from this album that I don't get to hear much. My cousin rocks with his two albums that are currently on the market. I son't get to hear him much but when I am in stores up north, I always look for the chance to get his music in some form of ausio. Keep up the good work and I liik forward to hearing more from you soon. Great job again, Richard

Music CD:

  1. The Man with a Rhyme ~ Archie Fisher
  2. Alchemy
  3. Cathie Ryan ~ Cathie Ryan
  4. Hymns from the Vedas and Upanishads, Vedic Chants ~ Jitendra Abhisheki
  5. Kentucky Mountain Music ~ Various Artists
  6. I Shall Be Unreleased: Songs of Bob Dylan ~ Various Artists
  7. On the Mend ~ Kym Tuvim
  8. Stand Easy/Preview ~ The Battlefield Band
  9. Essential/From the Heart ~ Joan Baez
  10. Report from Grimes Creek ~ Rosalie Sorrels

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Morning Way...Plus ~ Trader Horne

Enslaved

Monkey Business ~ Danger Danger

Chieftains Collection: The Very Best of the Claddagh Years, Vol. 2 ~ Chieftains

Uso Dato Itte//Bashoufu ~ Yoko Nagayama

Best of ~ Medhat Saleh

Too Much Money

Italian Soundtrack Horror Encyclopedia ~ Goblin , and Various Artists - Soundtracks

Beat at Cinecitta, Vol. 3 ~ Various Artists

Seimic Sounds ~ Various Artists